“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” – the scenes where Harry Potter and Professor Dumbeldore are battling with evil were filmed at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, and the rock the heroes stand on is Lemon Rock, County Kerry.
Photo by: Courtesy Warner Bros.

Movies you never knew were filmed in Ireland (VIDEOS)

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” – the scenes where Harry Potter and Professor Dumbeldore are battling with evil were filmed at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, and the rock the heroes stand on is Lemon Rock, County Kerry.
Photo by: Courtesy Warner Bros.

Ireland has a wonderful history on the silver screen. From John Wayne’s famous “The Quiet Man” to Roddy Doyle’s utterly irreplaceable “Commitments”, Ireland has a huge legacy in the film world.

However there are a couple of movies which have been filmed in Ireland but you might never guess.

Here are the top ten most surprising movies filmed in Ireland.

1. Braveheart

Following this Mel Gibson Hollywood blockbuster the tourism industry of Scotland recorded a boost of over 100 percent. Little did the tourists know that most of the battle scenes were filmed in Ireland.

All scenes depicting London were shot at Bective Abbey, County Meath. The Battle of Stirling Bridge was filmed on the Curragh Plains, County Kildare and the scenes set in York were actually filmed at Trim Castle, County Meath.

2. Saving Private Ryan

The famous opening twenty minutes of “Saving Private Ryan”, which is set on D-Day on Omaha beach, were actually filmed in County Wexford.

Filming lasted for two months and took place on Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe Strand. The Irish Defense Forces supplied 2,500 men to act as extras.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In this number six of the eight films there’s a dramatic scene when Harry Potter and Professor Dumbeldore are battling with evil. The camera swoops in towards some cliffs (the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare) and then we spot our two heroes standing on a rock (Lemon Rock, County Kerry).

4. The Princess Bride

This 1987 fairy tale tells the story of heroes whose goal is to rescue a beautiful princess, Buttercup. They are followed by a masked man in black across the sea and up the Cliffs of Insanity (again the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare).

This film is a childhood favorite of million with a star studded cast including Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes, Andre the Giant, Peter Cook, Billy Crystal and many others.

5. The Italian Job

In this 1969 classic, staring a very young Michael Caine, all of the jail scenes were actually filmed in Kilmainham Jail, in Dublin.

This is a hugely historically important location for Ireland. This is where many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the prison by the British and latterly in 1923 by the Irish Free State.

6. King Arthur

This 2004 incarnation of the legendary tale of King Arthur and round table was mostly filmed in Ireland. The movie starred Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Ray Winstone and Keira Knightley.

Britain’s beautiful old buildings and structures were in fact mostly filmed in Ardmore Studios, County Wicklow. What might have seemed to be Hadrian’s Wall was in fact Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare and the Luggala and Powerscourt Estates in County Wicklow were also used.

7. Barry Lyndon

This 1975 Stanley Kubrick classic tells the story of an Irish rogue who goes off and joins the British Army. All is not exactly what you might think in this film though.

When you think you’re seeing a German military encampment what you’re actually seeing is Cahir Castle, County Tipperary. Again when you are watching the British Redcoats what you’re actually seeing is Kells, County Meath.

8. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Based on a John le Carre novel this is a brilliant spy movie starring Richard Burton and filmed in Berlin, or so they would have you think.

Though you might think you’re looking at Checkpoint Charlie, in Berlin what you’re actually looking is Ardmore Studios in County Wicklow.

9. Freeze Frame

This is a terrifying psychological thriller starring amazing British comic, Lee Evans. It tells the tale of man who has served a jail sentence for three murders did not commit and has decided to live underground.

The entire movie was shot in the Crumlin Road prison just outside Belfast City.

10. The Tudors

Though it might not count as a movie it might surprise you to know that every little scrap of the Jonathan Rhys Meyers, tv series, “The Tudors” is shot in Ireland.

Locations they’ve used include Ardmore Studios and Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow and Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Jail and the People's Gardens in Dublin.